The Baltic Hermétique line has been the brand’s consciously sized, vintage-inspired dress/field watch with a crown that sits flush with the case. The versatility of the watch, due to its size and the ability to wear it on either wrist with the recessed crown, has made it a fan favorite. Baltic has chosen bold textures for the new limited edition dials but still keeps everything we know and love about the Hermétique line.
Baltic uses a railroad seconds track, syringe-style hands, oversized Arabic numerals, and tropic straps with the Hermétique line, which make it distinctly vintage-inspired. However, the 150m of water resistance, thin automatic movement, blue Super-LumiNova, and double-domed sapphire crystal put it in the present day. Add in the limited edition dial variants, and you will not only have a more modern watch, but you may also have a watch that tells the future of Baltic.
Baltic has done textured dials with their MR01 and Bicompax models, but not like this. The texture leaps out at you from the double-domed sapphire crystal. Geometric patterns undulating from the center pinion look like a creeping glacier with unstoppable force. Getting the dial out in the sun enhances the movement as each abstract shape dances and reveals the rough concentric brushing within the shapes. These dials appear to be highly dynamic in certain lights, especially the black dial, which sometimes resembles volcanic stone.
Carving its way in between a dress watch and a durable field watch, the new Hermetique is 37mm in diameter and only 10.8mm in height. This thinness is achieved through fantastic design and engineering, as well as the automatic Miyota 9039, an excellent choice for any small independent brand. The lug-to-lug measurement (a.k.a the measurement that will tell you if a watch fits within the bones of your own wrist with no overhang), is very friendly at 46mm.
You can thank Baltic for not considering 18mm or 19mm lug widths that are sometimes seen with watches less than 38mm because they opted for going with 20mm spacing between the lugs. Not only will the straps you already have fit on this watch, but Baltic offers a variety of Tropic FKM straps and a beads-of-rice bracelet or a flat link bracelet for $70 more.
A nature-inspired dial from Baltic is a welcomed change from their usual offerings, and the glacier motif is something uniquely theirs now. The depth and detail they can achieve with what is listed as a “stamped” dial is truly something to marvel at and is possibly how Baltic can deliver this watch at this price. Other brands that prioritize dial detail are much, much more.
Baltic Hermétique Glacier Limited Edition Specifications
| Case Size | 37mm (diameter) x 10.8mm (thick) x 46mm (lug-to-lug) |
| Water Resistance | 150m |
| Movement | Miyota 9039 |
| Case Material | Brushed & polished stainless steel |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Strap | Matching tropic-style vulcanized rubber strap |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Price | €600 |
The Hermétique line is an excellent vehicle for exploring even more textured dials. The watch is so refined and inoffensive that it will agree with almost any dial you drop in the case. Being limited edition watches, Glacier Black and Glacier White will only be available on the secondary market soon, so have a look there, or patiently wait for Baltic’s next release and hop on it as soon as possible.
Kevin is a serial hobbyist from Chicago who leaned heavily into his watch interest in March of 2020. His small collection favors appearance and comfort, which often leads to his sword-hand Seamaster or DLC Lunar Pilot on wrist. Having other obsessions like drumming to metal music, watching MMA, and perfecting his home gym, Kevin has found the watch hobby to be both relaxing and fun, but also incredibly expansive.